Everyone wants to win the flag but the reality is that at least half the competition is almost no chance every season. That doesn't mean there's nothing to hope for though.
Every club's situation is different, for some it's more wins, for others it's finals and for a select few, only the premiership will do.
With the AFL's unpredictability being one of its major draws, there's always the chance of a miracle season or a sudden upswing in form. Likewise, there's just as much chance of a nightmare campaign in terms of both form and injury.
As we look across the competition, the passing marks for the year will all be different. Simply saying premiership or bust is not reflective of where the majority of clubs are placed.
With that in mind, here are our pass marks for each AFL team for 2023.
Essendon
Consistency, consistency, consistency. This will be the mantra at Tullamarine after recent seasons, where this list has flattered to deceive. At times they look like a finals contender and at others, they look like a bottom six side.
Season 2023 is time to find out who the real Bombers are and they're off to a strong start with Brad Scott at the helm. Known for getting the best out of his charges, Scott will ensure his players bring consistent effort.
This team is one of the biggest wildcards in the competition in terms of predictability, so for the year to be successful, they will want to make a finals push and change their headline as unreliable mavericks.
Pass Mark: 8-10 wins and finals push.
